Foldable pompon

ABSTRACT

[Object] 
     To provide a foldable pompon with an added value, which is simple in structure, is optimal as cheering goods providing an attractive foldable pompon when opened spherically, and usable as a fan when closed, and which can be used in wide applications such as a three-dimensional decoration, a decorative general merchandise, a souvenir, and an advertising medium. 
     [Means for Solution] 
     A foldable pompon includes a plurality of strip thin pieces ( 21, 22, 23, 24 ), coupling pieces ( 31, 32, 33, 34 ) having the thin pieces fixed, and handles ( 10 ) to which a number of the coupling pieces stacked are attached, the two handles ( 10 ) being coupled in a relatively rotatable manner.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a foldable pompon which is a number of ribbons bound that is widely used in cheering at events of sports such as baseball, or parades and the like.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, the invention described in Patent Document 1 has been proposed, for example, regarding the structure for a pompon. This invention relates to the structure and a fabrication method for a pompon acquired by twisting thin elongated tapes, at their centers, about an axis which is the longitudinal axis, binding the twists with their lengthwise directions being identical, and varying the the axial directions of the binds to provide a three-dimensionally bound pompon.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT Patent Document

-   Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.     2007-77520

According to the invention described in Patent Document 1, twisting tapes can be easily done by merely twisting unbound tapes one by one. Also, two binding steps do not involve twisting and pulling. This makes it possible to save the time and labor for the fabrication. Further, twisting tapes has only to be carried out by twisting unbound tapes one by one only at the centers thereof, and does not involve twisting and pulling at both ends thereof, so that wrinkles are not easily formed at both ends of each tape, thereby providing a good-looking pompon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problem to be Solved by the Invention

In the invention described in the Patent Document 1, however, it takes time and at least a certain level of skill to align the ends of strip ribbons each formed by a thin plastic film, and twist and bind the ribbons at the central portions, and align the twisted ribbons in the same direction, and bind the ribbons.

In addition, the pompon of this invention merely serves as a conventional pompon, and does not provide an added value such as an advertisement.

The present invention has solved the conventional problems, and it is an object of the invention to provide a foldable pompon with an added value, which is simple in structure, is optimal as cheering goods providing an attractive foldable pompon when opened spherically, and usable as a fan when closed, and which can be used in wide applications such as a three-dimensional decoration, a decorative general merchandise, a souvenir, and an advertising medium.

Means for Solving the Problem

The invention described in claim 1 is a foldable pompon including a plurality of strip thin pieces, coupling pieces having the thin pieces fixed, and handles to which a number of the coupling pieces stacked are attached, the two handles being coupled in a relatively rotatable manner, so that when the two handles are closed, the thin pieces overlap to be a flat plate, and when the two handles are each opened 180°, intervals between the thin pieces become wide, making a spherical shape.

The invention described in claim 2 is a foldable pompon, wherein the thin pieces and the coupling pieces are formed separately, the coupling pieces include a plurality of coupling pieces each having two thin pieces fixed at an angle of about 60° and a plurality of coupling pieces each having three thin pieces fixed at angles of about 60°, an adhesive part is provided at the coupling pieces along the thin pieces and both sides thereof, and the individual coupling pieces are alternately overlaid one on another, and are securely adhered with the adhesive part.

The invention described in claim 3 is a foldable pompon, wherein the thin pieces and the coupling pieces are formed integrally, the coupling pieces include a plurality of coupling pieces each having two thin pieces fixed at an angle of about 60° and a plurality of coupling pieces each having three thin pieces fixed at angles of about 60°, an adhesive part is provided at the coupling pieces along lines which are extensions of distal-end shapes of the thin pieces, and the individual coupling pieces are alternately overlaid one on another, and are securely adhered with the adhesive part.

The invention described in claim 4 is a foldable pompon, wherein an ornament is fixed between the coupling pieces, and an event, goods, a catch line, or a photo of a star is displayed on a surface of the handle.

Effect of the Invention

According to the foldable pompon recited in claim 1, two handles to each of which a plurality of strip thin pieces are attached consecutively using coupling pieces, so that when the pompon is used as a pompon, a plurality of thin pieces are opened uniformly by opening each of the handles by 180°, providing an attractive spherical shape. When the handles are closed to be folded in two, the thin pieces overlap one another into a flat plate, which is convenient in being carried around, and the pompon can be used as a fan. In addition, when opened 180° on a table, the pompon can serve as a decorative article.

Further, the pompon can provide various shapes of characters or three-dimensional shapes by varying the lengths, shapes, etc. of the thin pieces.

According to the foldable pompon recited in claim 2, the thin pieces and the coupling pieces are formed separately, the coupling pieces include a plurality of coupling pieces each having two thin pieces fixed and a plurality of coupling pieces each having three thin pieces fixed, and the individual coupling pieces are alternately overlaid one on another, and are securely adhered. Therefore, the thin pieces are less likely to overlap one on another, and are uniformly arranged so as to demonstrate an attractive spherical shape when opened, and a well-proportioned fan-like shape when closed.

According to the foldable pompon recited in claim 3, the thin pieces and the coupling pieces are formed integrally, which brings about an effect such that the fabrication is easy in addition to the aforementioned effects of claim 2.

According to the foldable pompon recited in claim 4, in addition to the effects of claim 1, an ornament is fixed between the coupling pieces, and a photo of a star or a catch line of an event or goods, is displayed on the surface of the handle, thus resulting an unexpected quality and an excellent advertising effect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 A front view of a first embodiment of the invention in a folded state.

FIG. 2 An exploded view illustrating how thin pieces of the first embodiment of the invention are attached.

FIG. 3 A front view of the first embodiment of the invention in an open state.

FIG. 4 A diagram illustrating the first embodiment of the invention is used as a pompon.

FIG. 5 An exemplary diagram illustrating the relation between the thin pieces and coupling pieces of the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 A front view illustrating another example of the thin pieces and coupling pieces according to the invention.

FIG. 7 A front view of a second embodiment of the invention in a folded state.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A foldable pompon according to a first embodiment of the invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The foldable pompon 1 includes two semicircular portions 1 a, and has a size which is holdable with one hand. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the semicircular portion la includes a handle 10 having a grip part 12 provided at an upper portion of a semicircular fixed part 11, and a number of thin pieces 21, 22, 23, . . . attached to the back side of the handle 10 via coupling pieces 30, 31, 32, . . . , providing a fan-like shape as a whole as viewed from the front. While the fixed part 11 and the grip part 12 are made of paper, other materials and shapes may be adoptable.

FIG. 2 illustrates some of a number of thin pieces. The thin pieces 21, 22, 23, 24 are made of a PET film, are strips of a rectangular shape which is approximately 5 cm in width and 10 cm in length, and both sides of one end of each thin piece are cut off to be a sharp-angled portion 21 a, 22 a, 23 a, 24 a. Although the size and the material, or the shape and the quantity of the thin pieces can be arbitrarily determined, the material is preferably a film of a synthetic resin with a certain elasticity.

In addition, coupling pieces 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 made of a semicircular pet film slightly smaller than the fixed portion 11 are prepared. Of the coupling pieces, the coupling piece 30 should be adhered onto a back side 11 b of the fixed part 11.

How to make the semicircular portion 1 a of the embodiment is described with reference to FIG. 2.

Two of the strip thin pieces 21 are fixed to the coupling piece 31, which is in turn fixed onto the coupling piece 30.

At this time, the fixing is carried out in such a way that the distal ends of the sharp-angled portions 21 a of the two thin pieces 21 abut on each other at a midpoint C of the back side 11 b of the fixed portion 11. Accordingly, the two thin pieces 21 are fixed radially at an angle of about 60° about the midpoint C.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5, the coupling piece 31 has adhesive parts 31 a provided between the thin piece 21 and thin pieces 21 and along both sides of the sharp-angled portions 21 a of the thin pieces 21, and is fixed onto the coupling piece 30 by adhering those adhesive parts thereto.

Then, three thin pieces 22 are fixed to the coupling piece 32 at equal intervals so that, like the thin pieces 21, the thin pieces 22 are radially positioned about the midpoint C, and the coupling piece 32 is fixed by stacking it on top of the coupling piece 31.

At this time, the three thin pieces 22 are respectively positioned at a middle of the thin pieces 21, 21 and both sides thereof, and are fixed by stacking them on top of the pieces 21 one another in such a way that the individual thin pieces 22 are visible between the thin pieces 21, 21, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Further, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5, the coupling piece 32 has adhesive parts 32 a, 32 a provided along the thin piece 22 and thin pieces 22, and is fixed onto the coupling piece 31 by using those adhesive parts. The adhesive parts 32 a, 32 a are positioned at the portions that correspond to the lengthwise center lines of the thin pieces 21, 21.

Likewise, the coupling pieces 33, 34 to be described below are respectively fixed to the coupling pieces 32, 33 using adhesive parts 33 a, 34 a respectively provided at the coupling pieces 33, 34.

Then, the coupling piece 33 having two thin pieces 23 adhered thereon is fixed on top of the coupling piece 32. At this time, as mentioned above, the two thin pieces 23 are placed on top of the coupling piece 32 in such a way that the individual thin pieces 23 are visible between the three thin pieces 22.

Furthermore, the coupling piece 34 having three thin pieces 24 adhered thereon is placed on top of the coupling piece 33 in such a way that the thin pieces 24 are visible between the two thin pieces 23.

In this way, two thin pieces and three thin pieces are alternately stacked with the overlapping portions being reduced, so that the overlying thin pieces are visible between the underlying thin pieces. As a result, the thin pieces 21, 22, 23, 24 are fixed to the handle 10 to provide the semicircular portion 1 a having a fan-like shape as viewed from the front (see FIG. 1).

Two semicircular portions 1 a are prepared and are coupled to each other in a relatively rotatable manner with a string 13 serving as coupling means at the lower end of the fixed part 11 (see FIG. 3). Further, the topmost thin pieces 24 of the two semicircular portions 1 a are coupled together with their adhesive parts.

The action of the first embodiment configured in the above-described manner is described.

To use the embodiment as a pompon, the handles 10, 10 are rotated 180°, with the grip parts 12, 12 gripped, so as to align the top surfaces of the handles 10, 10 into a spherical shape, and are held (see FIG. 4).

At this time, the overlaid coupling pieces 31, 32, 33, 34 are connected consecutively with their adhesive parts 31 a, 32 a, 33 a, 34 a, with the other portions unconnected. Therefore, when the coupling pieces are pulled with the rotation of the handles 10, 10, because of the coupling piece 30 being fixed to the fixing portion 11, the other coupling pieces 31, 32, . . . are pulled in the direction of an arrow in FIG. 5 by the adhesive parts 32 a, 33 a, . . . .

As a result, the intervals of the coupling pieces 31, 32, . . . become gradually wider; however, since the adhesive parts of the coupling pieces are positioned at the portions that correspond to the lengthwise center lines of the thin pieces which are fixed to the underlying coupling piece as mentioned above, the adhesive part 32 a pulls the thin piece 21, the adhesive part 33 a pulls the thin piece 22, and the adhesive part 34 a pulls the thin piece 23, so that the thin pieces 21, 22, . . . are efficiently widened in the arrow direction.

Although only four layers of thin pieces 21 to 24 are illustrated in connection with this embodiment, the invention is not limited thereto. In general, ten or more layers of thin pieces are stacked on a single semicircular portion 1 a, so that in case of a pompon as illustrated in FIG. 4, a number of thin pieces make a spherical shape as a whole, which demonstrates gorgeous effect.

In addition, in case of using the embodiment as a fan, surfaces 11 a, 11 a of the fixed parts 11, 11 should only be held with fingers since closing the handles 10, 10 of the foldable pompon 1, to the contrary to the above case, causes the thin pieces 21, 22, . . . to be laid one on another to form a flat plate. Accordingly, the thin pieces 21, 22, . . . sway to feed wind, so that the embodiment serves as a fan. This is effective in a hot season, at the time of watching sports events.

While the thin piece 21 and the coupling piece 31 are prepared separately and are laid on each other in the above-described embodiment, a thin piece 51 and a coupling piece 61 are structured integrally in another example illustrated in FIG. 6. Specifically, in FIG. 6A, two thin pieces 51 are formed at an angle of substantially 60° at symmetrical positions from the center of the upper arcuate portion of the coupling piece 61 having the same shape as the coupling piece 31. This thin piece 51 has the same shape as the thin piece 21 having the distal end of its sharp-angled portion 21 a cut away in an arcuate shape, and is attached to the upper arcuate portion of the coupling piece 61.

Reference numeral 61 a denotes an adhesive part provided along a line 51 b which is an extension of a distal-end shape 51 a of the thin piece 51.

FIG. 6B illustrates a case where there are three thin pieces 52 which are attached to a coupling piece 62 at equal intervals at angles of substantially 60°. Reference numeral 62 a denotes an adhesive part provided along a line 52 b which is an extension of a distal-end shape 52 a of a thin piece 52. The provision of the adhesive parts 61 a, 62 a in such a way brings about an action and effects of thin pieces 51, 52 and coupling pieces 61, 62 similar to the thin pieces and the coupling pieces of the first embodiment.

A number of units each including the thin piece 51 integrated with the coupling piece 61 or the thin piece 52 integrated with the coupling piece 62 are stacked one on another to provide the semicircular portion 1 a.

This embodiment demonstrates an effect of easy fabrication in addition to the effect brought about by the above embodiment.

Although not shown, an advertisement or photo, a logo and the like of a sponsor may be illustrated on the surface of the handle 10. Further, in case of using the pompon in a one-man show or the like of a star such as a singer, a photo of the star may also be adhered. Both modifications are effective in warming up the atmospheres of the scenes. In addition, in cheering in a sports event such as soccer or baseball, if the logo of a supporting team or the photo of a player in the team or the like is illustrated on the surface, it becomes a keepsake even after it is used.

FIG. 7 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention.

This embodiment has an ornament 40 sandwiched and fixed between the coupling pieces 31, 32, . . . of the semicircular portion la structured in the above-described manner. According to this embodiment, with the semicircular portions 1 a closed, only a part of the upper portion of the ornament 40 is visible, whereas with the semicircular portions 1 a open to be a pompon, the ornament 40 is visible, providing a good element of surprise and fun. This ornament may be varied by changing its shape with different ways of cutting for characters, a Christmas tree and so forth.

As described above, each embodiment has the following effects.

(1) The embodiment is convenient to be carried around to a concert hall, a place of a sports event, etc., and is thus useful as a cheering goods. Further, when a concert hall or the like is hot, the embodiment may be folded to be used as a fan.

(2) A pen light configured separately may be used to light up the thin pieces from inside, so that an illumination effect can be enjoyed.

(3) Changing the lengths, the shapes, or the quantity or colors of the thin pieces allow the embodiment transformed into a pompon to have shapes of various characters or 3D (three-dimensional) shapes. In addition, the silhouette of the embodiment, even when transformed into a fan, can be enjoyed.

(4) The embodiment is usable as a tool at the time of dancing or cheering.

(5) The embodiment is usable as an artificial flower when opened 180° on a table in a party place or a home party. It is easy to be cleaned up. It is also usable as an ornament on a three-dimensional welcome board or a wall, or a Christmas tree.

(6) The embodiment may be used at the time of wrapping, and may be opened 180° to become an ornament like an artificial flower, or a decorative merchandise.

(7) A photo or a print may be inserted into the handle or the like, so that the embodiment is usable as a keepsake, or it is usable as a card with messages or a greeting card. It is also available as an SP tool, a premium, or a keepsake in an event.

Further, printing on the thin pieces make the embodiment an advertizing medium.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERAL

-   1 foldable pompon -   1 a Semicircular portion -   10 Handle -   11 Fixed part -   12 Grip part -   21, 22, 23, 24, 51, 52 Thin pieces -   21 a, 22 a, 23 a, 24 a Sharp-angled portions -   30, 31, 32, 33, 61, 62 Coupling pieces 

1. A foldable pompon comprising a plurality of strip thin pieces, coupling pieces having the thin pieces fixed, and handles to which a number of the coupling pieces stacked are attached, the two handles being coupled in a relatively rotatable manner, so that when the two handles are closed, the thin pieces overlap to be a flat plate, and when the two handles are each opened 180°, intervals between the thin pieces become wide, making a spherical shape.
 2. The foldable pompon according to claim 1, wherein the thin pieces and the coupling pieces are formed separately, the coupling pieces include a plurality of coupling pieces each having two thin pieces fixed at an angle of about 60° and a plurality of coupling pieces each having three thin pieces fixed at angles of about 60°, an adhesive part is provided at the coupling pieces along the thin pieces and both sides thereof, and the individual coupling pieces are alternately overlaid one on another, and are securely adhered with the adhesive part.
 3. The foldable pompon according to claim 1, wherein the thin pieces and the coupling pieces are formed integrally, the coupling pieces include a plurality of coupling pieces each having two thin pieces fixed at an angle of about 60° and a plurality of coupling pieces each having three thin pieces fixed at angles of about 60°, an adhesive part is provided at the coupling pieces along lines which are extensions of distal-end shapes of the thin pieces, and the individual coupling pieces are alternately overlaid one on another, and are securely adhered with the adhesive part.
 4. The foldable pompon according to claims 1, wherein an ornament is fixed between the coupling pieces, and an event, goods, a catch line, or a photo of a star is displayed on a surface of the handle.
 5. The foldable pompon according to claims 2, wherein an ornament is fixed between the coupling pieces, and an event, goods, a catch line, or a photo of a star is displayed on a surface of the handle.
 6. The foldable pompon according to claims 3, wherein an ornament is fixed between the coupling pieces, and an event, goods, a catch line, or a photo of a star is displayed on a surface of the handle. 